City set to return to five-day work week

Gainesville city officials announced Tuesday that city offices are returning to a five-day work week effective Aug. 14.

With the exception of a few city departments, City Hall and other departments typically have operated on four-day weeks since fall 2008.

Employees will adjust their schedules from 7 a.m. through 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City Manager Anthony Lyons said in a prepared statement that the change will enable the city to provide full services to its citizens throughout the work week and will “improve the quality of life for city employees by enabling a better work-life balance.”

The switching also aligns general government hours of operation with GRU work hours.

City spokesman Bob Woods said citizens have complained about the city's limited Friday services since the city switched to a four-day week as a cost-saving measure almost 10 years ago.

Woods also said city officials have heard from city employees, both happy and unhappy about the change and understands why some would be upset by going back to five-day work weeks. However, he added, it all comes down to serving the public.

"That's our primary focus and our reason for our existence," he said.

Woods said his week won't change much as a manager, but believes overall, the change will be beneficial.

"I think it's consistent with our efforts to be more citizen-centric," Woods said.

Contact reporter Andrew Caplan at andrew.caplan@gvillesun.com or on Twitter @AACaplan.